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Vietnam and the Sixties

Vietnam and the Sixties. Becker US History. Involvement in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and Versailles French defeat at Dienbienphu & division of Vietnam US is in middle of Cold War: domino theory If Vietnam falls to communism, all Asia will follow Cuba, China, Korea, etc

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Vietnam and the Sixties

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  1. Vietnam and the Sixties Becker US History

  2. Involvement in Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh and Versailles • French defeat at Dienbienphu & division of Vietnam • US is in middle of Cold War: domino theory • If Vietnam falls to communism, all Asia will follow • Cuba, China, Korea, etc • Kennedy commits ground troops as “advisors” • Determine that Ngo Dinh Diem is poor leader • Kennedy authorizes US assistance in coup • Diem is replaced

  3. America in Vietnam • President Johnson inherits JFK’s problem • Johnson wants to send troops, needs reason • Gulf of Tonkin Incident • USS Maddox and Turner Joy in Gulf on Tonkin • Radar system…wire to Washington of “incoming” • 2nd wire to Washington explains error: ignored • LBJ claims US ship attacked: Congress buys it • Johnson sends troops and aircraft to Vietnam • Unpopular: why send American boys to fight a war Asian boys should be fighting themselves?

  4. Vietnam • February 1965 US ground troops committed • Operation Rolling Thunder • Carpet-bombing of North Vietnam • US uses napalm and Agent Orange • Attempt to destroy the jungles where Viet Cong hid • By 1968 LBJ has 500,000 US troops and $30B invested in South Vietnam • Escalation continues and no easy way out

  5. Vietnam • Resistance to Vietnam • Teach-ins at major universities • Draft-dodgers flee to Canada, burn draft cards, etc • “Credibility gap” between leaders and people • McNamara’s criticism and firing • Domestic CIA activities • FBI anti-protest activities: Cointelpro

  6. Vietnam & 1968 Election • Jan 1968 Viet Cong launch Tet Offensive • Evacuation of Saigon • Increasing Opposition and Protest • LBJ will not run in 1968: Hubert Humphrey • Death of RFK: anti-Israel assassin • George Wallace takes some Southern votes • Richard Nixon elected on promise to win • “Peace with Honor”

  7. Nixon’s Vietnam • Rise of the Counterculture: the Hippies • The Sexual Revolution and redefining the family • Homosexuality and a new enemy: AIDS • LSD, marijuana, etc and impact on the above • Anti-war protests continue • SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) • “The Weathermen” take violent approach

  8. Get Us Out • Vietnamization policy: shift responsibility to locals • Withdrawal of over 500,000 US troops • Nixon Doctrine • US will honor existing commitments but no more • Not fast enough: Anti-war protestors gain strength • Nixon appeals to “Silent Majority” • News of My Lai hits the press • Assumption that this was an everyday event • Nixon’s expansion of war to Cambodia • Ho Chi Minh Trail

  9. Ending the War • 1970 Kent State Protest gets violent: rocks, fires, etc • National Guard fires into crowd, 4 dead in Ohio • 1971 Pentagon Papers published • Daniel Ellsburg releases to NY Times (illegally) • Nixon re-elected in a landslide in 1972 vs. McGovern • Nixon escalates bombing campaign, but… • US refuses to send more aid: war ends • War costs $170B, 58000 dead • POWs…MIAs…

  10. End of Vietnam Soldiers return home to disgrace and hostility War Powers Act passed to prevent another war President must get Congress’ approval to send troops Watergate scandal rising from 1972 Election taints presidency and accomplishments

  11. Watergate

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